Impacto da crise climática na distribuição de Euryades corethrus (BOISDUVAL, 1836), uma borboleta endêmica dos campos sulinos

As mudanças climáticas têm impacto em todos os níveis de organização da biodiversidade, em ambientes terrestres e aquáticos. Um grupo chave no funcionamento de ecossistemas são os insetos, que podem ser afetados pelas mudanças climáticas de maneira direta ou indireta, através de suas plantas hospedeiras. A borboleta Euryades corethrus é uma espécie endêmica dos campos do sul da América do Sul. Devido à alta destruição e conversão de habitat, a espécie tem o Rio Grande do Sul, no Brasil, como o principal local onde é encontrada atualmente. No Rio Grande do Sul ocorrem três espécies de planta indicadas como hospedeiras de E. corethrus: Aristolochia fimbriata, Aristolochia triangularis e Aristolochia sessilifolia. No entanto, A. fimbriata é rara e escassa e a borboleta é encontrada se alimentando apenas em A. sessilifolia. Este estudo buscou avaliar os efeitos das mudanças climáticas sobre a distribuição de E. corethrus, incluindo suas plantas hospedeiras. Para isso, a capacidade de se alimentar de A. triangularis foi testada. Após isso, foram avaliados os impactos de diferentes cenários de mudanças climáticas (RCP 4.5 e RCP 8.5 em 2050 e 2070) na distribuição da borboleta, sua (s) hospedeira (s) e a área de sobreposição de suas distribuições, utilizando modelos de distribuição de espécies. Os resultados indicam que apenas A. sessilifolia é utilizada como hospedeira, pelo menos no Rio Grande do Sul. Os modelos de distribuição sugerem que as mudanças climáticas não teriam um efeito direto marcado na extensão de ocorrência de E. corethrus, mas causariam uma contração relevante na distribuição de A. sessilifolia. Em razão disso, a área de sobreposição entre distribuições de borboleta e hospedeira diminui em todos os cenários futuros. Esses resultados indicam que as mudanças climáticas podem aumentar o risco de extinção de E. corethrus, já ameaçada pela perda de habitat e deficiente proteção por unidades de conservação dos campos onde ocorre. Assim, se reforça a necessidade de aumentar os esforços de conservação de ambientes de campo, e a importância de se utilizar informações de plantas hospedeiras em estudos de impactos de mudanças climáticas em insetos, e sua conservação.Climate change impacts all levels of biodiversity organization, in terrestrial and aquatic environments. A key group in the functioning of ecosystems are insects, which can be affected by climate change directly or indirectly, through their host plants. The swallowtail butterfly Euryades corethrus is an endemic species in the grasslands of southern South America. Due to the high level of destruction and conversion of its habitat, distribution of this butterfly is gradually being constrained to Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. In this State, three species of plants indicated as hosts of E. corethrus are recorded: Aristolochia fimbriata, Aristolochia triangularis, and Aristolochia sessilifolia. However, A. fimbriata is rare and scarce, and the butterfly is only found feeding on A. sessilifolia. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of climate change on the distribution of E. corethrus, including its host plant(s). For this, the ability of the species to feed on A. triangularis was tested. After that, the impacts of different climate change scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 in 2050 and 2070) on the distribution of the butterfly, its host plant (s), and the overlapping area of their distributions were evaluated, using species distribution models. The results indicated that only A. sessilifolia is used as a host, at least in Rio Grande do Sul. Distribution models suggested that climate change would not have a marked direct effect on the extent of occurrence of E. corethrus, but would cause a relevant contraction in the distribution of A. sessilifolia. As a result, the area of overlap between butterfly and host distributions decreased in all future scenarios. These results indicate that climate change can increase the risk of extinction of E. corethrus, already threatened by habitat loss and scarce conservation units in the grasslands where it occurs. Thus, the risk of extinction of E. corethrus must be recategorized and conservation efforts in grasslands environments should be strengthened. Results support how important it is to consider species interactions and climate change jointly, when studying the impacts of the latter upon species and in conservation planning

Nonlinear models. An approach to model irrigated and non-irrigated common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) growth

Common beans reduce their development and productivity when facing soil water deficit. Comprehension about growth response under this condition can be a tool for cultivar selection and escape from scarcity periods. Therefore, the objective was to characterize bean growth in different water conditions using logistic and chanter models. Two experiments (crop season= EI and fallow season = EII) were carried out in Santa Maria, RS, Brazil in a bifactorial scheme (cultivars: Triunfo, Garapiá, FC104; water condition: irrigated, not irrigated) in a completely randomized design. Fortnightly evaluations of height, number of nodes, stem diameter, root length, aerial part, roots, and nodules dry matter were carried out. The data were adjusted according to the accumulated thermal sum by the logistic and chanter models. From the results, it is noted that there was a dissimilar performance between water conditions, cultivars, and experiments. The best adjustment occurred for stem diameter, node number, and aerial part dry matter. Between models, the logistic is the most suitable to describe common bean growth

O uso de Jogos e Atividades lúdico como estratégia de ensino-aprendizagem

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Programa “Ciência vai à Escola” – estímulo ao ensino-aprendizagem da Química

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12,500+ and counting: biodiversity of the Brazilian Pampa

Knowledge on biodiversity is fundamental for conservation strategies. The Brazilian Pampa region, located in subtropical southern Brazil, is neglected in terms of conservation, and knowledge of its biodiversity is fragmented. We aim to answer the question: how many, and which, species occur in the Brazilian Pampa? In a collaborative effort, we built species lists for plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi that occur in the Brazilian Pampa. We included information on distribution patterns, main habitat types, and conservation status. Our study resulted in referenced lists totaling 12,503 species (12,854 taxa, when considering infraspecific taxonomic categories [or units]). Vascular plants amount to 3,642 species (including 165 Pteridophytes), while algae have 2,046 species (2,378 taxa) and bryophytes 316 species (318 taxa). Fungi (incl. lichenized fungi) contains 1,141 species (1,144 taxa). Animals total 5,358 species (5,372 taxa). Among the latter, vertebrates comprise 1,136 species, while invertebrates are represented by 4,222 species. Our data indicate that, according to current knowledge, the Pampa holds approximately 9% of the Brazilian biodiversity in an area of little more than 2% of Brazil’s total land The proportion of species restricted to the Brazilian Pampa is low (with few groups as exceptions), as it is part of a larger grassland ecoregion and in a transitional climatic setting. Our study yielded considerably higher species numbers than previously known for many species groups; for some, it provides the first published compilation. Further efforts are needed to increase knowledge in the Pampa and other regions of Brazil. Considering the strategic importance of biodiversity and its conservation, appropriate government policies are needed to fund studies on biodiversity, create accessible and constantly updated biodiversity databases, and consider biodiversity in school curricula and other outreach activitie

Reciclando o óleo de cozinha e contribuindo para a conscientização ambiental de alunos do ensino médio

Resumo: O agravamento dos problemas ambientais reflete a necessidade de mudanças no comportamento humano. Alguns destes são desconhecidos por boa parte da população brasileira, como as consequências do descarte incorreto do óleo de cozinha usado no meio ambiente. A relação do homem com a natureza necessita melhorar, para isso faz-se necessário a disseminação da Educação Ambiental na sociedade, especialmente em ambientes escolares. Pensando nisso, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo desenvolver atividades relacionadas à Educação Ambiental com alunos do Ensino Médio de duas escolas públicas do RN, abordando conceitos de sustentabilidade e aplicando oficinas de reciclagem de óleo de cozinha residual transformando-o em sabão. Para obtenção dos dados foram aplicados dois questionários: Levantamento de Conhecimentos Prévios (QCP) e de Verificação da Aprendizagem (QVA) aplicados antes e após as discussões e oficinas, respectivamente. As análises dos questionários mostraram que 64% conseguiram conceituar reciclagem e reutilização no QCP, enquanto 77% conseguiram conceituar os termos no QVA; 95% afirmaram não conhecer as consequências do descarte incorreto do óleo de cozinha no ambiente, mas, após a discussão, 86% conseguiram apontá-las. Sessenta e seis porcento afirmaram que os óleos utilizados em suas residências são descartados incorretamente na pia, no lixo ou no solo. Ainda, 90% dos estudantes responderam que não conheciam pontos de coleta de óleo usado em Natal ou cidades próximas. Os resultados obtidos enfatizam a necessidade da discussão dos 3Rs da sustentabilidade e da problemática do óleo de cozinha na sociedade e na escola através da Educação Ambiental. Palavras-chave: Educação ambiental; Sustentabilidade; Oficinas de Reciclagem; Sabão Artesanal Recycling cooking oil and contributing to environmental awareness of high school students Abstract: The worsening of environmental problems reflects the need for changes in human behavior. Some of these problems are unknown to most of the Brazilian population, such as the consequences of incorrectly disposing of used cooking oil in the environment. The relationship of humankind with nature needs to improve, and for this, it is necessary to disseminate Environmental Education in society, especially in school environments. With this in mind, the present study aimed to develop activities related to Environmental Education with high school students from two public schools in RN, addressing concepts of sustainability and applying recycling workshops for residual cooking oil transforming it into soap. Data were obtained by applying two questionnaires: Prior Knowledge (QCP) and Verification of Learning (QVA) applied before and after the discussions and workshops, respectively. The students' questionnaire analysis showed that: 64% managed to define recycling and reuse in the QCP, while 77% managed to define the terms in the QVA. Ninety-five percent answered that they did not know the consequences of the incorrect disposal of cooking oil in the environment, but 86% were able to understand this after discussion. Sixty-six percent said that the oils used in their homes are incorrectly disposed of in the sink, garbage, or on the ground. Furthermore, 90% of the students answered that they did not know used oil collection points in Natal or nearby cities. The results obtained emphasize the need to discuss the 3Rs of sustainability and the problem of cooking oil in society and school through Environmental Education

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio